Przemko I, Duke of Opava
Encyclopedia
Przemko I, Duke of Opava was a member of the Opava branch of the Bohemian Přemyslid dynasty
. He was Duke of Opava
from 1367 until his death and Głubczyce
from 1394 until his death.
of Opava and his third wife, Jutta (died: ), daughter of Duke Boleslaw II of Opole-Falkenberg. Nicholas died shortly after Przemko was born, and so Przemko stood under the regency and guardianship of his oldest half-brother John
, who was the sole heir of the Duchy of Racibórz
.
After disputes over their inheritance, the four brothers decided in 1367 to divide the Duchy of Opava. In 1377, a new division was performed, in which John kept the Duchy of Racibórz, and also received the duchies of Krnov
and Freudenthal. The Duchy of Głubczyce
was split off for Nicholas III
, with Przemko and Wenceslaus sharing the reduced Duchy of Opava. Wenceslaus died in 1381, and Przemko then ruled Opava alone. Before Nicholas III died in 1394, he had pledged Głubczyce, Zlaté Hory
, Hlučín
and Krzanowice
to the Duchy of Oels
. Przemko was later able to redeem Głubczyce.
Przemko also found himself in financial difficulties and had to pledge the Lordship of Hradec nad Moravicí
to Wok Lacek of Krawarn. However, he managed to redeem this possession in 1394. In the same year, he found the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Kateřinky.
During a period of turmoil in Moravia, Przemko maintained close relations with Jobst of Moravia
, whose mother was Przemko's half-sister. Because Przemko sided politically with King Wenceslaus
, he joined the Silesian League at the meeting in Wrocław in 1402.
After Wenceslaus's death, Przemko supported King Sigismund
and provided him with military support during the Hussite wars
. The Hussites responded by destroying the Duchy of Opava in Februay 1428. Przemko's oldest son Wencelaus II managed to avert the destruction of Głubczyce by signing a treaty with the Hussites. In March 1428, Przemko joined forces with Duke Rupert II of Lubin
and the Bishop of Wrocław. they fought the Hussites at Nysa
, but could not prevail. Their army was overrun by the Hussites, however, Půta III of Častolovice could prevent the Hussites from taking Nysa itself. In December 1428, Przemko's son Wenceslaus participated in the Battle of Stary Wielisław, where the Hussites again prevailed. In March 1430, Przemko could prevent further destruction of the Duchy of Opava by concluding another treaty with the Hussites. The Hussites then destroyed Racibórz
and Koźle
instead. In 1431, a large part of the City of Opava was destroyed by fire.
Shortly before his death, Przemko write a will
, stipulating that after his death, his eldest son Wenceslaus II should act as guardian and regent for his three younger sons from his second and third marriage. He also stipulated that they should not divided the duchy among themselves, however, in 1445, his sons divided the duchy anyway.
After Anna's death, Przemko married to Catherine (died: 23 May 1422) of Münsterberg, a sister of ohn I of Münsterberg|John}], who was the last Duke of Münsterberg from the Silesian Piasts
dynasty. With her, he had three more children:
In 1425, Przemko married his third wife, Helena of Bosnia (d. 1435). She gave birth to the children:
Premyslid dynasty
The Přemyslids , were a Czech royal dynasty which reigned in Bohemia and Moravia , and partly also in Hungary, Silesia, Austria and Poland.-Legendary rulers:...
. He was Duke of Opava
Duchy of Troppau
The Principality or Duchy of Troppau or Opava was based for centuries around the Upper Silesian city of Troppau . In the final four centuries of its existence, the Duchy belonged to the Austrian Habsburg dynasty, and it was dissolved with the Habsburg Empire in 1918...
from 1367 until his death and Głubczyce
Duchy of Głubczyce
Duchy of Głubczyce Duchy of Głubczyce Duchy of Głubczyce ( was one of the duchies of Silesia. Its capital was Głubczyce in Upper Silesia.The town was historically mentioned for the first time in 1107. At the time, it was a small Moravian village, named Glubcici, and was dominated by a large wooden...
from 1394 until his death.
Life
His parents were Duke Nicholas IINicholas II, Duke of Opava
Nicholas II of Opava was Duke of Opava from 1318 to 1365 and Duke of Ratibór from 1337 to 1365 and Burgrave of Kladsko from 1350 to 1365 and also chamberlain of the Kingdom of Bohemia.- Life :Nicholas II of Opava was a member of the Opava branch of the Bohemian noble Přemyslovci family...
of Opava and his third wife, Jutta (died: ), daughter of Duke Boleslaw II of Opole-Falkenberg. Nicholas died shortly after Przemko was born, and so Przemko stood under the regency and guardianship of his oldest half-brother John
John I, Duke of Opava-Ratibor
John I of Opava-Ratibor was the founder the Troppau branch of the Bohemian Přemyslid dynasty, which lasted until 1521. In 1365, he became the sole heir of the Duchy of Racibórz. From 1367 to 1377 he ruled the Duchy of Opava...
, who was the sole heir of the Duchy of Racibórz
Duchy of Racibórz
Duchy of Racibórz was one of the duchies of Silesia. Its capital was Racibórz in Upper Silesia.-History:After Bolesław I the Tall and his younger brother Mieszko I Tanglefoot backed by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa had retained their Silesian heritage in 1163, the Duchy of Racibórz was formed in...
.
After disputes over their inheritance, the four brothers decided in 1367 to divide the Duchy of Opava. In 1377, a new division was performed, in which John kept the Duchy of Racibórz, and also received the duchies of Krnov
Duchy of Krnov
Duchy of Krnov was one of the Duchies of Silesia, with its capital in Krnov, present-day Czech Republic.-History:The duchy was created in Upper Silesia in 1377 by partition from the Duchy of Opava , on lands which until 1269 had been part of Moravia...
and Freudenthal. The Duchy of Głubczyce
Duchy of Głubczyce
Duchy of Głubczyce Duchy of Głubczyce Duchy of Głubczyce ( was one of the duchies of Silesia. Its capital was Głubczyce in Upper Silesia.The town was historically mentioned for the first time in 1107. At the time, it was a small Moravian village, named Glubcici, and was dominated by a large wooden...
was split off for Nicholas III
Nicholas III, Duke of Opava
Nicholas III of Opava was Duke of Opava from 1367 to 1377 and Duke of Głubczyce from 1377 until his death.- Life :Nicholas II of Opava was a member of the Opava branch of the Přemyslid dynasty...
, with Przemko and Wenceslaus sharing the reduced Duchy of Opava. Wenceslaus died in 1381, and Przemko then ruled Opava alone. Before Nicholas III died in 1394, he had pledged Głubczyce, Zlaté Hory
Zlaté Hory
Zlaté Hory is a town in the Jeseník District, Olomouc Region, Czech Republic, on the border with Poland. It has a population of 4,447 . The town was founded in 1224.Administrative parts: Rejvíz, Horní a Dolní Údolí and Ondřejovice...
, Hlučín
Hlucín
Hlučín is a town in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It is the center of the Hlučín Region. The population was 14,500 as of 2004....
and Krzanowice
Krzanowice
----Krzanowice is a town in Raciborz County, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,206 inhabitants . It lies just a few kilometers from the border with the Czech Republic.- People :* Vincenz Kollar* Max Schirschin* Johannes Slawik...
to the Duchy of Oels
Duchy of Oels
The Duchy of Oels or Duchy of Oleśnica was one of the duchies of Silesia, with the capital in Oleśnica, Poland.Initially part of the Piast Duchy of Wrocław, the Oleśnica area became part of the Duchy of Głogów in 1294, following an armed conflict between Duke Henry III and Henry V the Fat, Duke of...
. Przemko was later able to redeem Głubczyce.
Przemko also found himself in financial difficulties and had to pledge the Lordship of Hradec nad Moravicí
Hradec nad Moravicí
Hradec nad Moravicí is a town in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic located about 8 km south of Opava. It has cca 5,150 inhabitants. The town is dominated by a castle complex....
to Wok Lacek of Krawarn. However, he managed to redeem this possession in 1394. In the same year, he found the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Kateřinky.
During a period of turmoil in Moravia, Przemko maintained close relations with Jobst of Moravia
Jobst of Moravia
Jobst of Moravia, Jobst von Mähren from the House of Luxembourg was the eldest son of Margrave John Henry of Moravia, the younger brother of Emperor Charles IV....
, whose mother was Przemko's half-sister. Because Przemko sided politically with King Wenceslaus
Wenceslaus, King of the Romans
Wenceslaus ) was, by election, German King from 1376 and, by inheritance, King of Bohemia from 1378. He was the third Bohemian and second German monarch of the Luxembourg dynasty...
, he joined the Silesian League at the meeting in Wrocław in 1402.
After Wenceslaus's death, Przemko supported King Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
and provided him with military support during the Hussite wars
Hussite Wars
The Hussite Wars, also called the Bohemian Wars involved the military actions against and amongst the followers of Jan Hus in Bohemia in the period 1419 to circa 1434. The Hussite Wars were notable for the extensive use of early hand-held gunpowder weapons such as hand cannons...
. The Hussites responded by destroying the Duchy of Opava in Februay 1428. Przemko's oldest son Wencelaus II managed to avert the destruction of Głubczyce by signing a treaty with the Hussites. In March 1428, Przemko joined forces with Duke Rupert II of Lubin
Rupert II of Lubin
Rupert II of Lüben was a Duke of Lubin and Chojnów since 1419/20 until his death.He was the eldest son of Henry IX, Duke of Lubin, by his wife Anna, daughter of Przemyslaus I Noszak, Duke of Cieszyn.-Life:...
and the Bishop of Wrocław. they fought the Hussites at Nysa
Nysa, Poland
Nysa is a town in southwestern Poland on the Nysa Kłodzka river with 47,545 inhabitants , situated in the Opole Voivodeship. It is the capital of Nysa County. It comprises the urban portion of the surrounding Gmina Nysa, a mixed urban-rural commune with a total population of 60,123 inhabitants...
, but could not prevail. Their army was overrun by the Hussites, however, Půta III of Častolovice could prevent the Hussites from taking Nysa itself. In December 1428, Przemko's son Wenceslaus participated in the Battle of Stary Wielisław, where the Hussites again prevailed. In March 1430, Przemko could prevent further destruction of the Duchy of Opava by concluding another treaty with the Hussites. The Hussites then destroyed Racibórz
Racibórz
Racibórz is a town in southern Poland with 60,218 inhabitants situated in the Silesian Voivodeship , previously in Katowice Voivodeship...
and Koźle
Kozle
Koźle is a district of Kędzierzyn-Koźle and is at the junction of the Kłodnica and Odra rivers, 29 Ifl. southeast of Opole by rail. The district has a Roman Catholic church, a medieval chateau, remains of a 19th century fortress and a high school...
instead. In 1431, a large part of the City of Opava was destroyed by fire.
Shortly before his death, Przemko write a will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
, stipulating that after his death, his eldest son Wenceslaus II should act as guardian and regent for his three younger sons from his second and third marriage. He also stipulated that they should not divided the duchy among themselves, however, in 1445, his sons divided the duchy anyway.
Marriage and issue
Around 1395, Przemko married Anna of Lutz (d. 1405). They had three children:- Wenceslas II (d. 1446), Duke of Głubczyce, married around 1420 by Elizabeth of Kravař
- Nicholas IV (d. 1437), Duke of Opava and Lord of Zlaté HoryZlaté HoryZlaté Hory is a town in the Jeseník District, Olomouc Region, Czech Republic, on the border with Poland. It has a population of 4,447 . The town was founded in 1224.Administrative parts: Rejvíz, Horní a Dolní Údolí and Ondřejovice...
- Agnes (died ), married firstly John of Kravař, and second George of Sternberg
After Anna's death, Przemko married to Catherine (died: 23 May 1422) of Münsterberg, a sister of ohn I of Münsterberg|John}], who was the last Duke of Münsterberg from the Silesian Piasts
Silesian Piasts
The Silesian Piasts were the oldest line of the Piast dynasty beginning with Władysław II the Exile, son of Bolesław III Wrymouth, Duke of Poland...
dynasty. With her, he had three more children:
- William of Opava (d. 1452), Duke of Opava and Münsterberg
- Ernest of OpavaErnest, Duke of OpavaErnest of Opava was a member of the Opava branch of the Přemyslid dynasty. He was Duke of Opava from 1433 to 1461 and Duke of Münsterberg from 1452 to 1456.- Life :...
(d, 1464), Duke of Opava and Münsterberg - Jutta (d. 1445), married around 1435 Count George II of Bosing (d. 1467)
In 1425, Przemko married his third wife, Helena of Bosnia (d. 1435). She gave birth to the children:
- Przemko II (d. 1478), Canon in Wrocław
- Catherine (d. 1475), married John of Cimburg
- Hedwig (died ), abbess of the Sanctuary of St. Jadwiga in TrzebnicaSanctuary of St. Jadwiga in TrzebnicaSanctuary of St. Jadwiga in Trzebnica is a convent for Cistercian nuns, situated in Trzebnica north of Wrocław, in Silesia, Poland, founded in 1203. After few decades of abandonment in the 19th century, it is an abbey of the Sisters of Mercy of St...